5 Tesco breads that are not ultra-processed
Most supermarket breads are ultra-processed,but Tesco offers a few that skip the emulsifiers and preservatives. These five loaves are made the traditional way.
Tormund Gerhardsen
Founder of The Food App
Supermarket breads often contain emulsifiers, preservatives and other additives that make them ultra-processed. Tesco, however, offers a few exceptions – breads from both Jason’s and its own range that leave out these ingredients. Below is an overview of each loaf, including its style and ingredients.
Jason’s: traditional sourdough
Slow-fermented and naturally chewy, this is a real sourdough made with only the basics. No additives – just proper bread.
Jason's White Ciabattin Sourdough 900g
Ingredients: Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Water, Salt, Fermented Wheat Flour
Jason's White Ciabattin Sourdough 900g is Not ultra-processed .
Jason’s: sandwich sourdough
A softer sourdough, ideal for sandwiches. Still clean, still traditionally baked – and completely free from ultra-processed ingredients.
Jason's Recipe No 01 The Great White Straight Up Sourdough Loaf 450g
Ingredients: Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Water, Rye Flour, Salt, Fermented Wheat Flour
Jason's Recipe No 01 The Great White Straight Up Sourdough Loaf 450g is Not ultra-processed .
Tesco: Seeded bloomer
Same clean recipe as the bloomer, but with added grains and seeds for taste and texture. A hearty option that’s still UPF-free.
Tesco Finest Stonebaked Seeded Multigrain Bloomer 600G
Ingredients:
INGREDIENTS: Water, Wheat Flour, Wholemeal Wheat Flour, Sunflower Kernels (3.5%), Barley Malt, Wheat Gluten, Linseed (2%), Oat Flakes, Rye Flour, Rapeseed Oil, Wheat Fibre, Salt, Sugar, Sourdough Culture (Wheat), Caramelised Sugar, Yeast, Soya Flour.
Tesco Finest Stonebaked Seeded Multigrain Bloomer 600G is Not ultra-processed .
Tesco: Wholemeal Sourdough
Dense, flavourful and full of fibre. This is a wholegrain sourdough made the simple way – no emulsifiers.
Tesco Brown Sourdough 400G
Ingredients:
INGREDIENTS: Wholemeal Wheat Flour, Water, Wheat Flour [Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin], Wheat Fibre, Salt, Fermented Wheat Flour, Sourdough Culture (Wheat).
Tesco Brown Sourdough 400G is Not ultra-processed .
Tesco: Sourdough Bloomer
Rustic and crusty, with a soft middle. A classic sourdough made without the industrial extras found in most packaged bread.
Tesco Sourdough Bloomer 400G
Ingredients:
INGREDIENTS: Wheat Flour, Water, Salt, Malted Barley Flour.
Tesco Sourdough Bloomer 400G is Not ultra-processed .
What makes most supermarket breads ultra-processed?
Most pre-baked supermarket breads contain emulsifiers like E471, which help mix fat and water. Many also include added wheat gluten to improve texture and shelf life, making the bread stronger for large-scale production. Some even contain dextrose, a type of sweetener used instead of sugar.
Warburtons Toastie Thick Sliced White Bread 800g
Ingredients: Wheat Flour [with Calcium, Iron, Niacin (B3) and Thiamin (B1)], Water, Yeast, Salt, Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed and Sustainable Palm), Soya Flour, Preservative: Calcium Propionate, Emulsifiers: E472e, E481, Flour Treatment Agent: Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Warburtons Toastie Thick Sliced White Bread 800g er Ultra-processed.
Hovis Wholemeal Tasty Medium Bread 800g
Ingredients: Wholemeal Flour (Wheat), Water, Wheat Protein, Yeast, Salt, Soya Flour, Preservative: E282, Caramelised Sugar, Emulsifier: E472e, Flour Treatment Agent: Ascorbic Acid, Wheat Flour (with added Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), This product contains 62% Wholegrains from Wholemeal Flour
Hovis Wholemeal Tasty Medium Bread 800g er Ultra-processed.
Kingsmill 50/50 Medium Soft White Bread Loaf 800g
Ingredients: Wheat Flour (33%) (with Calcium, Iron, Niacin (B₃) and Thiamin (B₁)), Wholemeal Wheat Flour (33%), Water, Yeast, Salt, Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed, Sustainable Palm), Sustainable Soya Flour, Emulsifier: E472e, Vinegar, Preservative: Calcium Propionate, Flour Treatment Agent: Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Kingsmill 50/50 Medium Soft White Bread Loaf 800g er Ultra-processed.
What does bread actually need to contain?
Bread only needs a few basic ingredients: flour, water, yeast, salt and possibly a bit of oil. Seeds and whole grains are also common, natural additions. Some breads include E300, also known as ascorbic acid – a flour treatment agent that improves baking performance. Although it’s an additive, it doesn’t make the bread ultra-processed, as it evaporates during baking. Still, it must be listed on the label.